do fish get cataracts?

[iamsquatty]

haha weird question i know.

but here goes...ive got two small bala sharks (yes, i know they get big. they are still very small and we are planning on getting another aquarium in a few months), and i noticed today that on of them, its left eye looks like the lens either got cracked or it looks like it would be getting a cataract. is there some specific type of disease that would affect just one eye like that, or is do you think he is just going blind in that eye?

i would try to take a picture of it but i dont think the resolution on my camera would pick it up.

thanks.

 

[plah831]

sounds like a case of cloudy eye, to me. See this link http://www.thatfishshop.com/health/cloudy_eye.htm

It can usually be cured by doing lots of water changes, and maintaining perfect water parameters.

 

[iamsquatty]

ok, yeah it doesnt look as bad as the fish in the picture of that link, but it might be just beginning. we were planning on doing a water change tonight to try to see if it made it better anyway, so that just validates it. thanks!

 

[plah831]

I'd do 50% water changes 3-4 times a week. If after 2 or 3 weeks, it hasn't improved then you might want to try an antibiotic like Maracyn. Usually these things are caused by bacterial infections due to dirty water. The dirty water feeds the bacteria, and suppresses the fish's immune system. With perfectly clean water, the fish can normally fight the infection on its own without the need for medications.

good luck!

 

[iamsquatty]

alright. we're almost to the point where the water is at the right levels, and we have been doing water changes very regularly, we did a 50% this past weekend, and a few smaller ones after that, tonight we'll do another 50% and see if it helps out at all.